Premier's reading challenge attracts 60,000

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Premier Bracks with Rangeview Primary School children who met his
reading challenge.Photo: Wayne Taylor

Prasan Karunathilaka enjoys a good book more than most. The
eager nine-year-old from Rangeview Primary School in Melbourne's
east was a star participant in the Premier's Reading Challenge,
which ended this week  he read twice the number of books
required.

"My favourite book was The Great White Man-Eating Shark,"
Prasan said, recalling his enjoyment of the Margaret Mahy book.

More than a million books were read in the past six months as
130,000 students took part in the challenge.

Beaming, Premier Steve Bracks said: "Everywhere I go, parents
and young kids come up to me and say, 'I have been doing the
reading challenge.' "

Students in grades 3 to 9 were challenged to read at least 12
books in six months.

Sixty thousand students read 12 or more books and they will
receive a certificate signed by the Premier.

The best performing of the 1500 schools that took part will
receive a school certificate and book prizes at a reading challenge
reception at the National Gallery of Victoria on September 7.

Rangeview Primary School principal Christopher Cotching said he
was very proud of his school's participation in the challenge.

Two hundred and twenty-four Rangeview students from grades 3 to
6 took part and 205 read their 12 books.

Mr Cotching said it was fantastic to see students organising
themselves and reading so many books.

Mr Bracks indicated he would like to issue the challenge again
next year. "If we we can keep it going in the future, I would love
to."

He said he would like to maintain an emphasis on reading in
Victoria's schools. "Everywhere I go I am getting anecdotal
evidence from parents who say it is one of the best things that has
ever been done," he said, "and (from) children who say they are
doing the reading challenge and feel proud about it.

"It will make a difference to a generation of young people who
will feel motivated and inspired to read more, to learn from
reading and to gain greater skills."

Mr Bracks said the challenge had also promoted some great local
authors  "world-class children's authors, a lot of them from
Victoria". The challenge had even increased Mr Bracks' reading. "I
have read nearly a dozen books while this has been on," he
said.

His recent reads included David Day's books on former Labor
prime ministers John Curtin and Ben Chifley.

At school, Mr Bracks said, his favourites were all the
Biggles books and The Wind in the Willows.

"I still remember the excitement I got out of Wind in the
Willows and those characters coming alive."